That's oh-be-GUY-n, not oh-be-GIN, as some (primarily people from Texas) would like to refer to my chosen profession. Although, working in this field can sometimes cause one to develop a penchant for gin...hmmm.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

It's a Beautiful Day

It is bright and blue and sunshiny outside, and it looks like Spring, but still feels like winter. I find yet another week of perpetual motion stopped dead upon the couch in sheer exhaustion. Life is just *flying* by me these days. I guess this is true for everyone. I'm on call this weekend, fielding call after call from OtherDoc's patients seeking pain meds. I'm not quite sure what to make of the sheer volume and clumsiness of the requests that I get the weekends that I am on call for him. I'd like to think that his patients are just testing the waters to see if the little naive covering doc will buy in to their tales of woe long enough to get a few pills here or there, but I'm more than a little concerned that he is a candyman kind of doctor. This bothers me on more levels than I can enumerate. Regardless, my answer is patent, "I'm sorry, but I will not call in narcotic pain medications to patients that I have not seen and examined. I'd be happy to call in Naprox.en until you are able to be seen in the office." Funny, but I don't get any takers on the offer for non-narcotic meds. Ah, well.

So it is the season of Lent. A relatively new concept for me, as I was not raised in a particularly religious household, is the "giving up" something for Lent. Mr. Whoo was raised in a fairly observant Catholic family (no meat on Fridays, the whole nine yards) so Lent is the norm for him. We do not attend a Catholic church, but our church does observe the Lenten season, so this is my first official foray. We have decided to give up watching television on weekday nights. *gasp* Shocking, I know, especially for this TV-phile, but the logic behind it is that we spend too much time on weekday nights vegging in front of the TV instead of doing productive things like laundry, cleaning, talking, or projects. We have also been going to bed way too late, simply because we are watching certain shows. It is not the shows, themselves, that we are giving up (because, come on, that *would* be crazy) but rather the time we waste on TV. All of the shows are being safely Tivo'd for consumption on the weekends, so I'm not missing out on Lost, American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, or anything else that I want to watch. I'm just a little delayed in catching up. Now, we started this on Wednesday (most difficult) and only had to do it for two days before being able to watch the shows, so we will see how it will go during a full week. I think it is going to be a good thing. We are doing things we need to get done, and going to bed earlier, which my body appreciates.

This week was a relatively quiet week for deliveries. I did have a primiparous patient that came in for a post-dates (41+) and LGA induction that received Cervidi.l at midnight that had a 9 pound baby boy a mere six hours later. That was pretty wild, but I was really happy for her that her super-long pregnancy culminated in a super-fast delivery. Hmmm, what else happened of note this week? Oh yes, we did find a little something out about the bean. It looks like we are going to have a little....

BOY!

Color me surprised! I guess I didn't realize how much I had been psyching myself up for another girl until the tech put the unmistakable evidence on the monitor. It was interesting because the tech did not know that I was a physician, and she was really great about explaining all of the anatomy that she was documenting. I just kept mum, because Mr. Whoo didn't really know what he was seeing, and it was nice to be treated just like another pregnant person. I was particularly happy because the anatomy looked spot-on perfect. The tech kept commenting about how "beautiful" the baby's anatomy was, which was pretty darn cool. Also funny was a shot of our son-to-be reaching down towards his nether regions during the scan. Ha. Definitely all boy. I'm still trying to register that we are going to have a son. It was just so much easier to picture us parenting a girl, since that is all that we know. All that matters is that the baby looks healthy and happy, and that is all that we would ever want. Now I have to come up with a clever name for the bean that goes with Whoo. Any suggestions?

I've been reading your blog for the past few months (found it by accident b/c I was surfing the net while studying for oral boards) and just felt compelled to write to you today, b/c, goodness! I think we are practically the same person!!!! Seriously, ob/gyn, neat/cleaning/supportive husband, toddler daughter, pregnant with second kid (a BOY as well, and I was convinced that it would be a girl, a little further along at 35 wks, too), on call this weekend, TV addict, and always feeling like I'm one step ahead of total chaos (which I am pretty proud and happy about). Of course, you rock more than me, since I am part of a large practice and live in the Sunshine state. I am "call-spoiled" by having 4 other partners and I can't function when the temp dips below 50F. Don't know how you do it with the snow and being solo! Anyways, really enjoy your blog. It echoes a lot of my own sentiments about this field and this kind of life, in a wittier, more interesting prose, of course. Thanks for sharing your blog!!

Congratulations! I recall how it was when I was pregnant with my 2nd born. Firstborn was a boy, and I was so afraid I couldn't be a good mommy to a girl. Boy seemed easy at the time. We waited, and she was born. I refused pink, requested absolutely no pink or frills. I got things like dinosaur dresses from family (I kid you not). Now, I am so used to having both, I don't really have a preference. Of course, we do have three girls and two boys, so to even things up....hmmmm.....

So far we're doing okay, but at 11 weeks my OB's doppler couldn't pick up the heartbeat with all the maternal fat. Argh. Doc said not to freak out as it's early (I know, I know). Still, I don't go back until week 16, the week we found out one of our little ones was not alive. At least it's a different office this time (same OB who rotates offices). I have great confidence baby is growing, I will just be more comfortable with a doppler in my bedroom, but I'm not obsessive enough to rent one. I think we preggo moms after miscarriages are part obsessive/part crazy. I will not freak out, I will not freak out. Seriously, I am pretty sure we're okay.

I have four boys and I've got to say, they are a blast. None of them were shy about displaying their sex at the ultrasounds, even though my MIL was convinced by some psychic that the last two would definitely be girls. I think it was the same psychic that told my husband that his wife would die young - let's hope she is wrong on that one too!

Congrats! I have tried to cut down on my tv as well, I think I watch instead of studying... I know I watch instead of studying. And, obesity has been directly related to number of hours of television watched.

I really like the name Gabe for a boy (short for Gabriel) but somehow it became a girls name (Gabrielle) more than a boys name in our society.

Hey, congratulations, friend! I would be as caught off guard as you - I keep informing Wilman that we are having all girls when we start having babies. Ha. Okay - potential names that go well with Whoo:

(1) Andrew - I am loving this name, if you shorten it to Andy (am not a fan of "Drew") - but I already have a nephew with this name so can't use it myself.(2) Michael (but not Mike, just Michael). Again, I already have a nephew with this name so can't use it myself.(3) Nathan (shortened to Nate - sooo cute)(4) Stephen. Just kidding. I think that would not be very good with Whoo.(5) I think Neal would be quite nice with Whoo, actually. (6) Paco. Mmm, maybe not.(7) Lately, I am loving the name Zachary/Zach. (8) That is all I can come up with right now off the top of my head!

Congratulations! I am in the same kind of reverse shock, thinking we would have another boy.I guess Boo Whoo is out. Dude Whoo is kinda cute. I stand in awe of your tv giving up. I would like to try that, but the 1 hour of Zooboomafoo after work while I lie on the couch is saving my butt some days.

Without you getting into specifics on your patients, how common is first trimester high bp? (I had a reading of 146/80 at 11 weeks) In looking it up I've discovered is considered the same as chronic high blood pressure if before 20 weeks. I have a history of being borderline in 1st and 3rd trimesters, and last pregnancy was officially just at high (that perfect 140/90) two days before delivery. My ob seemed calm about my reading this time, and I even began to ask her about my high blood pressure and she talked about some other topic and went on. I don't go back until week 16 (so that's 5 weeks with no clue how bp is going). I am going to bet it goes down in this pattern. Do you see this often in your patients with high bp 1st and 3rd trimesters? I am concerned actually about high bp in the future besides my risk for pre-e. I had hoped my ob would have been more interested in talking about it, but she just went on...

I know you cannot diagnose on the internet, and don't want you to. Just wondering if women are usually okay, and that's why my ob is acting so cool (or maybe she's just trying not to stress me thinking "white coat syndrome."). How agressive do you treat high bp?

Maybe instead of an anwer directly to me, a post about pre-e and high bp is appropriate...

I just stumbled across your blog and wanted to say congratulations. I'm expecting a boy too in July. The ultrasound showed that everything was perfect, except for a velamentous cord insertion. I'm not a doctor, but am one of those people you envy, the "non working"--well, the non-financially-compensated worker. You are one of the people I envy so it runs both ways!

TV, blogs, all of it--don't let it tear you to pieces, don't let it evict you from your own life.

I'm going to continue to read your blog with interest. It'll be my "one" blog; just like I only watch one tv show.

Good luck on picking a name for your little guy. My husband and I can't agree. I picked "Rune" which he thought was weird and he picked "Jack" which I thought was far too common for the last name of Adams. My eight year old son's name was easy: Kipp (last name of his godfather.) We have to hope we just get inspired here one of these days.

Hey, congratulations! I just popped over from the blogroll on TBTAM, so I haven't been reading long enough to suggest a whoo-centric name for the little bean. But it's exciting to know the sex of the new kid! I'm a few weeks farther along than you, but also having a little boy (my first) so I'll be lurking for a while to see how you're doing.

As for the TV delay--yeowch! I'm encouraged to follow your lead, but I just can't seem to get myself off the couch. Hope it goes well.

Congratulations!!! Being the mother of a boy, you'll find, is a bit different than mothering a girl!

I started out with a girl, and then went on to have 3 boys. In some ways the girl was easier, and in others - it was the boys. In all cases, I often thought of how nice it would be if I could corral them all into opposite sides of the house! ;o)

efh~ Hi! Wow, we have uncannily similar lives! Surfing the net instead of studying for the boards? A woman after my own heart. :) I am a'skeered of the oral boards. Thanks for reading and good luck with your labor and delivery! (Geez, by now, you may already be delivered!)

arturo, milk and two sugars~ Thank you for the congrats! Very good name suggestions!

jawndoejah~ Wow, 2 boys and 3 girls, going for the tie? I'm actually really happy in a lot of ways that they will be different genders, I'm just nervous to see how different it will be to parent a boy. I'm glad that the pregnancy is progressing well!

jacqui~ Yikes on the psychic! I hope she was wrong, too! No this little kiddo was not one bit shy about letting it "all hang out." Hee.

s.~ Thanks so much for the congrats. I think that CindyLou will be a great big sister, too. We have a TV in our bedroom, but the only time it is used in the morning when CindyLou watches the Wiggles and we get ready for work.

fchen~ I am so glad you enjoy reading the blog, and hopefully I'll get better about writing it soon! Ok, I seriously love this nickname...Woo Whoo. Ha!

cheryl~ Oooh, nice Seussian spin on the nickname. You guys are really good.

gimme a break~ I like Coo (like baby coos), but Coo Whoo makes me think of Coo Coo which makes me think of Cocoa Puffs, which makes me think of that cartoon bird and...wait, what did you say? ;)

3carnations~ Thanks for the congrats. I Tivo Days of Our Lives, but only watch one episode every two weeks or so to stay caught up. Otherwise it gets too frustrating to watch every day. Thanks for the congrats! CindyLou is energy enough, I'm interested to see how the boy compares.

medstudentitis~ I resemble that obesity statistic...seriously. Gabe (both Gabriel and Gabrielle) is a really nice combination of being just rare enough that you don't have one in every class, but not so rare that no one knows what you are talking about. Good choice.

GG~ Hi and thank you! It's weird, but the family that lived in our house before we did had 3 little girls, and I think that subconsciously I was thinking that the house would somehow confer girl children to us as well. (How's that for irrational?) Thank you for all of your suggestions! I love Andrew (we already have 2 in the family, dammit, and hate to say, I am partial to the Drew shortening) and if I could guarantee that Michael would not be shortened to Mike I would be tempted, but that nickname is just inevitable. Does Paco the looove taco ring a bell? HA!

frectis~ CindyLou is a pretty easy kid right now, but I dread the teenage years. I have heard that boys are easier that way. Hee-hee Whoo...nice lamaze breathing reference! You all are too clever.

ottoette~ Thank you for the congrats. Boo Whoo is funny, but you are right, probably not the right connotation. Oh CindyLou still gets her nightly Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, otherwise I'd never get dinner done.

mwwak~ Thank you! Oh yes, he will be teased, but boys will be boys!

anon~ yay! Thanks!

jawndoejah~ Whenever I see elevated 1st trimester BPs I think more about chronic HTN than pre-e. Regardless, I usually order baseline liver function/BUN/Cr. and get a baseline 24 hour urine in the first trimester as a basis of comparison.

I don't generally treat medically until consistent 150s/90s, but I do advise checking BPs at home. Maybe you can get a home monitoring device or go to the pharmacy and periodically check your pressure and let your MD know?

kissashark~ Oh yes, the Tivo is a must for this undertaking! WeeWilly Whoo! Heh. Might give the kiddo a complex, though.

anon~ Thank you, we feel truly blessed.

bhr~ Thank you! The Whoolet, cute!

lea~ Oh you poor thing, you've likely moved on to another blog to read, since I've been silent for so long! Thank you for the congrats, and congrats to you, as well. Velamentous cord insertion can sometimes be scary, so I hope that all is going well in your pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, for all my moaning about work, I love what I do, and I don't think I could *not* work (as tempting as it sounds after a long week). I just like to complain. Good luck with the name search, it can be frustrating. I do hope you stick around, and I do try to update at least once a week. Nice to "meet" you, too.

trope~ Congratulations on your new addition, as well! Seems like a boy boom around here! I hope all continues to go well. Oh, and I still laze about on the couch...now I just play Solitaire instead of watching TV. Ah, well.

moof~ Hi! Good to "see" you! Ha on the corraling of the children, I can totally identify with this, and I only have one. It will be interesting, to be certain. It's hard for me to look at all the boy stuff! I keep gravitating toward the dresses!

Let others think about them. How did you get here? What were you talking about? Vails story in the newspapers. That is beside the point. Questions of truth do not enter into social issues. And I cant say that I blame them, either. They majored in two subjects—mine and Hugh Akstons.